LANCASTERONLINE | Staff
Young people can gain suicide prevention skills and mental health awareness at a free training event hosted by the Columbia Catholic Mental Health Ministry.
Set to take place May 10, the two-part event will provide education on common mental health conditions and will train attendees in suicide prevention, the ministry said. Children 12 and up, as well as adult counselors, can attend the training, which will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church Parish Center, 404 Cherry St., Columbia Borough. Those under 18 must get parental permission if they want to participate in the suicide prevention portion of the day.
“Our community has recently suffered the heartbreaking loss of two young lives to suicide, deeply affecting their families, friends and our local schools,” said the ministry’s Deacon Jim Doyle. “By learning to recognize and support someone who may be feeling lonely, despondent, or having suicidal thoughts, you could help save a life. This training provides the tools to offer that support when it’s needed most.”
The training will be conducted by Jayne Miller, WellSpan’s Lebanon County crisis intervention counselor. At the mental health awareness session, attendees will learn about conditions including depression, addiction and eating disorders, and will learn to recognize symptoms and offer help. The session also aims to promote emotional wellness and reduce stigma.
The suicide prevention session will teach participants to recognize and address suicide warning signs through an evidence-based certification program called Question, Persuade, Refer. Participants who complete this session will get a QPR booklet and a certification.
Pizza will be provided at the event, which is held in partnership with Columbia Catholic Youth Ministry.
Attendees must register by May 5. Donations to cover the cost of materials and food are welcome.
For more information, contact Doyle at ccmentalhealthministry@gmail.com or (717) 343-1102.
GET HELP
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, contact the following organizations:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, suicidepreventionlifeline.org, or call, text or chat 988. (The previous number 800-273-8255 still works.)
Those who are deaf or hard of hearing can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline via TTY at 800-799-4889.
Lancaster County Crisis Intervention, 717-394-2631.
LGBTQ+-specific resources: thetrevorproject.org/get-help.
Veterans who are in crisis can call the toll-free Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and then pressing 1, by texting to 838255, or chatting online (lanc.news/help4vets). This service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All calls are confidential.
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